Quite possibly the last update for this story.

Disclaimer - Do I look like Andrew Lloyd Webber or TS Elliot?

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Quaxo and Tugger arrived back in the clearing to find that what Quaxo had said was true – no-one had found any clues to Deuteronomy's whereabouts. The entire journey from the place he and Tugger had talked to the clearing, Quaxo had been talking with Mistoffelees.

They're going to need you, Quaxo thought to the more powerful magician.

Not yet, Mistoffelees replied. It isn't time.

I know it isn't, but you're the only one that can get Deuteronomy back. The others will expect you to get him back as soon as we're in the clearing.

You'll know when it is, but until then, stall them! I'm not using my magic until I absolutely have to, and you're not dying until you absolutely have to either. Is that understood?

Mistoffelees' voice was so firm and strong that Quaxo couldn't ignore it. He unconsciously nodded his head in response, forgetting that he was walking right next to Tugger, who couldn't hear the silent conversation.

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As soon as he entered the clearing, Quaxo was met by very loud encouragement to let Mistoffelees take control of his body.

Stall them, Mistoffelees whispered in his mind.

How? Quaxo asked.

Tell them… Tell them you can sense the area immediately next to Deuteronomy, and there are more than a few strays guarding him.

"I can't get him back," Quaxo said out loud. The cats stared at him. "Not right now, anyway. There are loads of strays guarding him, there's too much risk that some of them might get caught up in the magic and brought back here."

"Who cares?" Plato asked. "We can get rid of them."

"It's not that simple," Quaxo answered. Giving Tugger a meaningful look he repeated firmly: "I can't do it right now."

Tugger understood what he meant and gave him a short nod before encouraging the other cats to group off and try to think of plans to chase off the strays if Quaxo had to let Mistoffelees get Deuteronomy back right then. After they had all begun thinking up plans, Tugger dragged Quaxo aside, away from the other cats.

"What's he waiting for?" he asked, referring to Mistoffelees and speaking quietly so that the others wouldn't hear.

"I don't know," Quaxo replied honestly. "I know it's not time yet – I can feel it – but I think he's waiting for something else."

"Any idea what that might be?"

"No," Quaxo sighed, shaking his head.

Several cats ran to one of the clearing exits, and the two toms turned to see Munkustrap and Alonzo enter. Alonzo looked around for Cassandra and made a beeline straight for her, but Munkustrap remained where he was. He gave Quaxo a look that hinted ever-so-slightly at hurt at not being told sooner; he was the cat that everyone in the yard trusted, he should, by rights, have been told as soon as Quaxo found out that he was going to die.

Quaxo lowered his gaze, unable to look the silver tabby in the eye. He knew he should have said something sooner, but he hadn't been entirely sure how Munkustrap would react to the news of Quaxo's fate and he hadn't wanted the Protector to be running around making a fuss, such was Munkustrap's usual style.

Munkustrap had been about to walk over to the small tux when a deep, manic laugh rang out across the junkyard. The Jellicles immediately grouped together around the tyre, Demeter, as usual, pinning herself to Munkustrap's side and shaking like a leaf. Strays began appearing in the clearing, all of them creeping out from crevices in the junk the Jellicles never knew existed. Macavity himself stalked in not long after, his evil amber eyes scanning over the frightened faces of the Jellicles.

Quaxo suddenly knew – now was the moment to let Mistoffelees have control of his body for the final time. He let his magic flow into his paws so that they sparked ever so slightly, causing Tugger to grab his arm with concern.

"What're you doing?" he hissed in the tux's ear. Quaxo smiled sadly at him.

"Going out with a bang," he answered softly.

Tugger stared at him for a moment as though he was hoping his friend was joking. When he saw no lie in Quaxo's eyes, he sighed and let him go, nodding his goodbye and smiling sadly.

Quaxo began to walk purposefully towards Macavity, letting Mistoffelees out as he did so. Tugger watched him go and moved so that he was standing in front of the kittens to prevent them from running forwards when it became clear what would happen to Quaxo. Munkustrap saw him and detached himself from Demeter to help.

Mistoffelees stopped walking as Macavity began to approach him. He held out a paw and the strays and Macavity couldn't move. He moved his other paw around with slow circular motions. White smoke appeared in a large swirling pattern, and before long a dark shape began to take form within it. The Jellicles and Macavity immediately recognise it as Deuteronomy, much to Macavity's anger. As soon as the old cat was visible in the smoke, Mistoffelees instructed him to stand back. He complied, and Mistoffelees held that paw out towards Macavity as well.

This is it, the powerful cat warned Quaxo.

Go for it. It's about time they found out how much magic you've got, Quaxo answered, his tone determined.

You know, Deuteronomy was right – you are a cat to be proud of.

Mistoffelees turned back to smile sadly at the Jellicles, knowing how much it meant to Quaxo that the whole tribe knew that he would miss them. Tugger, Munkustrap and Deuteronomy all nodded and smiled back before Mistoffelees turned back to Macavity.

The Jellicles were forced to close their eyes and turn away by the brightness of the magic that followed. The hot white light and the wind that accompanied it ruffled their fur and allowed them to see through the lids of their eyes. Tugger had to fight his immediate urge to run forwards and stop Mistoffelees; he knew that it had to happen, and he knew what the effects would be. He had tried to prepare himself, but even after months of knowing, he still had to force himself to stay back and not go to help.

After almost ten seconds, the light faded and the Jellicles gingerly opened their eyes. There was no sign of Macavity or the strays in the clearing. The only indication to what had just happened was the small tuxedo tom lying peacefully in the middle of the clearing, almost like he was asleep.

Tugger detached himself from the stunned kittens and walked slowly towards his friend. He saw the soft smile on Quaxo's white face and realised that the small magician had found his peace at last. Leaning down, he checked for a pulse – just in case.

Nothing.

He stood up slowly, not entirely sure what to do next. Should he tell the others, or had they already guessed? Were they just too shaken to say anything, or were they already grieving? Deuteronomy put a paw lightly on Tugger's shoulder before drawing him in to his arms to comfort him as best he could.

Demeter walked slowly over to Munkustrap, who was staring at the small tux sadly. She nuzzled him and hugged him tightly, knowing how much losing a member of the tribe would affect him. He sighed and rested his head on her shoulder, too exhausted from everything that had happened that night to do anything else. Someone touched his shoulder lightly and he turned to see Victoria standing there, her white fur shining in the moonlight.

"Is he…?" she trailed off, not having to complete the sentence for Munkustrap to know what she was talking about. He nodded sadly, and the young queen bit her lip as tears began to form in her eyes.

The kittens looked at the adult cats as though hopeful that they were only playing a mean trick on them, but the expressions on the older cats' faces quashed those hopes right away. If it was a trick, then Rumpleteazer wouldn't have buried her face in Mungojerrie's chest to hide her tears, Tugger wouldn't have allowed himself to be hugged by his father like a little lost kitten, and Coricopat wouldn't have his arm wrapped around a weeping Tantomile.

"Dad," Tugger said quietly into Deuteronomy's fur. "Is there any way we can send him up to the Heaviside?"

Deuteronomy looked up at the sky; he could just see the horizon beginning to turn a slight pinkish colour, the first indicator of the dawn.

"I think so," he replied softly. He turned to the rest of the tribe. "Tonight, Quaxo allowed Mistoffelees to use more magic than ever before to save us all, knowing full well what it would cost him. If anyone is against this brave young cat going to the Heaviside, speak now."

Silence.

"Up, up, up, past the Russell Hotel," Tugger began quietly.

"Up, up, up, up, to the Heaviside Layer," the kittens and Munkustrap joined in softly.

The other cats began to join in one by one, adding their voices to the mix. Soon the whole tribe was singing, not only with their voices but with their hearts too; Quaxo had been a very highly respected and well-liked member of the tribe – he would be sorely missed.

It wasn't long before a bright light came down from the sky, completely engulfing Quaxo so that the Jellicles couldn't see him. When it faded, he had disappeared from their lives forever.

"The mystical divinity

Of unashamed felinity

Round the cathedral rang 'vivat'!

Life to the Everlasting Cat."

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I really need feedback for this chapter, or the whole of the story, really, because I'm not sure whether or not I should put up the epilogue. I personallythink it ends really well right here, and the epilogue would spoil it a bit, but I can always put it up and pretend it's got nothing to do with me if you guys really want it.

Thanks to everyone who's reviewedthisso far.